What is Household Hazardous Waste? |
| Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) includes:
- 3D printer resin
- Automotive fluids and products including motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters
- Batteries
- Fluorescent lamps, including the curly compact light bulbs
- Fuel (Note: Fuel is non-transferable. Your container will not be returned to you.)
- Household cleaners, lawn and garden chemicals
- Items with Drug Identification Numbers (DIN), including prescription and over-the-counter products, expired medicines, cosmetics (such as make-up, nail polish, perfume, shaving cream, deodorant)
- Mercury thermostats
- Paints and solvents
- Propane tanks (barbeque size or smaller)
- Syringes
Tip! Check for these symbols: 
NO unsealed, leaking or unlabeled containers. No glass containers. No Ammunition (bullets, shells, gunpowder), firearms, and explosives, asbestos, radioactive material. No glucose meters and other monitoring devices, intravenous (IV) bags and tubing, painting tools. Wondering how to dispose of an item? Ask the Waste Whiz.
Reminder! Various empty containers are accepted in recycling programs so don't bring them to HHW drop-off sites. Put the following empty containers in your Containers blue box:
- Plastic bottles and jugs that contained windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, or household cleaners
- Empty aerosol cans
- Empty, dry paint cans (with lid removed).
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How to prepare HHW for drop-off |
- Keep Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) in the original container so that the chemical can be safely identified.
- If not in the original container, please write on the container what it contains.
- Do not use glass containers.
- Note that the Region's HHW depot can accept containers with maximum volume of 25 litres.
- Ensure lids on all containers are tightly sealed and do not leak.
- Do not mix materials together.
- Apply tape to terminals of all lithium batteries.
- Store materials in safe, dry, secure area(s) of your home which are out of reach of children and pets.
- Place syringes in an approved syringe disposal container which are available for free from pharmacies. Once filled with syringes, take the plastic container to a local pharmacy. Visit Health Products Stewardship Association to find a location near you. Do not dispose syringes in your curbside garbage or recycling containers.
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About our HHW depots |
| We operate two depots which accept residential household hazardous waste that has been generated within Waterloo Region. Note: The maximum size of containers accepted at our depots is 25 litres. Our depots can be extremely busy, particularly on Saturdays. Locations:
- 201 Savage Drive, Cambridge. The entrance is at the very end of Savage Drive. Follow the road and veer right to go to the scales. Follow directions provided on signs. Tell the scale operator the materials you have and follow their instructions.
- 925 Erb Street West (Gate 2), Waterloo. Enter the roundabout and go to the Gate 2 entrance. Note: You do not have to cross the scales to access our depot in Waterloo. Follow the directional signage. Enter the drive through, park and turn off your vehicle. Unload your items onto the table provided.
Our HHW depots are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on statutory and designated holidays. |
About drop-off programs |
| Residents can return many types of household hazardous waste to local businesses participating in stewardship programs.
- Drop-off of residential household hazardous waste is free; you will not be charged fees at either local businesses participating in stewardship programs or at the Region's Household Hazardous Waste depots.
- Limits may apply. Please call or check the business's website ahead of time to confirm the waste accepted, quantities and any COVID-related restrictions.
Check the sections below to find out limits, requirements and drop-off options for certain types of household hazardous waste. |
Automotive fluids and oil filters (motor oil, oil filters, old fuel) |
- Local stores: Through the Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority, a network of local stores accept antifreeze/coolant, empty motor oil containers and oil filters.
- Drop off at our depots: Please note the following limits:
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Barbeque tanks and other pressurized cylinders |
- Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority: Enter your postal code to find a local drop-off location near you.
- Drop off at our depots: BBQ tanks and other pressurized cylinders can be dropped off for no charge at our depots.
TIP! When transporting pressurized cylinders, make sure they are in an upright position and on a flat surface. |
Batteries |
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Chemicals and cleaning products (household only) |
| Includes waxes, polishes, solvents, cleaning products. Bring them in their original container to our depots. The maximum size of containers accepted at our depots is 25 litres. |
Fertilizers and pesticides |
- Visit Product Care to find a local store that accepts fertilizers and pesticides near you including a complete list of accepted items, and more information about this stewardship program.
- CleanFARMS program: Drop off clean, empty pesticide and fertilizer containers at various locations. Check their Ontario recycling guide and other recycling opportunities.
- At our depots: Fertilizers and pesticides can be dropped off for no charge at our depots. The maximum size of containers accepted at our depots is 25 litres.
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Fluorescent lamps and thermostats, ballasts |
| Includes "curly" light bulbs, long fluorescent light tubes, old thermostats that contain mercury. These items are accepted at our depots: Lighting ballasts found inside fluorescent fixtures manufactured before 1980 may contain polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). These ballasts need to be disposed of by a registered PCB recycler. Visit Aevitas for more information. Note: Other types of light bulbs (incandescent and LED) and strings of lights can go into the garbage, but have to be prepared properly to protect collection staff:
- Wrap it in several layers of newsprint and tape shut, or put it in a small cardboard box and tape shut.
- Ensure that it's completely sealed and there are no sharp edges.
- Put it in the middle of a garbage bag. Pack other garbage on top and around. Once full, tie the garbage bag securely closed.
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Medicine (prescription, over-the-counter) |
| Includes unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Go to the Health Products Stewardship Association. Type in your postal code to find a pharmacy near you that takes back these items. |
Paint, Stains, Sealants and other coatings |
| Includes all paints (interior, exterior, marine), stains and coatings, varnishes and urethanes, wood finishing oils, sealants.
- At our depots the maximum size of container that is accepted at our depots is 25 litres.
Reminder! Empty aerosol cans and empty, dry paint cans (with lids removed) can be recycled in the Blue Box and Cart recycling programs. |
Syringes |
- Place syringes in an approved syringe disposal container that is available for free from your local pharmacy.
- Go to Health Products Stewardship Association; type in your postal code to find a pharmacy near you.
- Drop off the syringe container to a pharmacy participating in this stewardship program.
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Tips |
| Prevent and reduce the amount hazardous chemicals in your home by:
- Using the "BUD" principle: Buy only what you need. Use it all up. Dispose of any leftovers safely and properly.
- Switching to "green" alternatives and natural options whenever possible. Consider making your own cleaners and furniture polish out of kitchen ingredients from recipes online.
- Various empty containers are accepted in recycling programs so don't bring them to household hazardous waste drop-off sites. For example, plastic bottles and jugs that contained windshield washer fluid, antifreeze or household cleaners can be put in the Containers blue box. As well, empty aerosol cans and empty, dry paint cans with lid removed.
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